Man-Made: I'm Seven Days Away from Top Surgery

"This column is dedicated to anyone questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity."

My name is Chella Man.
My last name foreshadows my future.
At this moment, I am a 19-year-old, deaf, genderqueer artist transitioning on testosterone.

After spending my entire childhood growing up in a ridiculously narrow-minded town in Pennsylvania (my high school recently had Tr*mp come to speak)…

I worked hard, fueled by my desire to leave that area and ended up being able to skip my senior year of high school to come directly to college. I now study virtual reality programming while creating and selling my art on the side, here in New York City.

One of my goals is to publicize and normalize conversation on queer, disabled, PoC youth.

I want to be the role model I never had as a kid.

This column is dedicated to anyone questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity.

I will be sure to update it weekly.

I’m honored to announce I will be having top surgery on January 10th, 2018.

I have written this letter to my future, flat-chested self reminding me to never take my flat chest for granted.

Chella Man is a 19-year-old, deaf, genderqueer, queer artist currently transitioning on testosterone. He is studying virtual reality programming at The New School in New York City, while creating art on the side. His main focus is to educate others on issues regarding being queer and disabled within a safe space.